PINCKNEY — The continuous sound of whistles blowing, the pleasant smell of fresh-cut grass and the sight of a bunch of people donning the same logo on matching helmets as they practiced through a bit of rain. It could only signal one thing: Football is back.

High school football teams around the state were allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association to open up practices on Monday afternoon, creating the expected buzz of excitement with opening day of Aug. 24 just around the corner.

In Livingston County, perhaps no team was more excited than Pinckney.

That's because the Pirates — who finished as KLAA West runners-up last year, had one of their best seasons in school history (8-3) and was the only county team to win a playoff game — are facing the most change.

Pinckney has a new coach, new conference and a new attitude in 2017.

Rod Beaton, who has been at Pinckney since 2001 — most recently working as the defensive coordinator from 2012-16 — has taken over the head coaching role for Jakob Gailitis, who resigned in the offseason after five years with Pinckney.

Beaton was among those most upbeat and excited for Monday.

“Oh man, it’s kind of been surreal,” the coach said with a laugh. “I was up most of the night last night, just thinking, like, oh my gosh, this is about to go down. We’ve done camps and summer stuff and everything, but when you get to the first day, you still get the butterflies.

“It was tough sleeping. I was pacing around the room, and my wife was like, ‘You just gotta go. I know you don’t have practice until 3:30 (p.m.), but you have to leave.’"

That was quite all right with Beaton, who said the early start afforded him extra time to get a jump on the daily to-do list, which is quite lengthy now that he’s the main figure of the Pinckney football program.

“It’s definitely different now being in charge,” Beaton said. “I think the biggest thing is you’re now the point person of every single thing that happens in regards to the program. It’s all going through you, and you’re being talked to about it. Whether it’s last-minute eligibility, last-minute equipment issues … every little finite detail you have to take care of, and, if not, it’s back on you.”

The transition thus far has been pretty seamless, though, Beaton said. And although Gailitis was beloved by the players, they have exhibited strong support for their new head coach since the decision was announced.

“Coach Beaton has been with Pinckney for a long time,” senior quarterback Jack Wurzer said, “and they really haven’t changed things up too much since he’s been here, so I think it will run about the same, if not better. He’s a great fit for this job, especially because he’s been with us.”

“He’s ready to get after it all the time,” Pinckney senior linebacker Cauy Hendee added. “We love that positive energy, and we love having him around. It will be different, but we have had him before and know what to expect.”

The Pirates might know what they’re getting from their new coach, but when it comes to their new league, the Southeastern Conference, things become more of a question mark. Pinckney elected to leave the KLAA after 16 seasons and now calls the SEC White home.

Pinckney once resided in the SEC, but that was in 1999. Certainly, things have changed since then.

On top of adjusting to new leadership, the Pirates have to quickly get acclimated to the new division and familiar with their new opposition, which includes Ypsilanti Lincoln, Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Dexter, Tecumseh and Adrian.

“Coming from the KLAA, I think it definitely puts a target on us,” Beaton said. “When you look at the KLAA and the stature of the KLAA and how people respect the KLAA as a very tough football conference, and the success we had last year … people are ready for us.

“What also adds intrigue for us, is we’re going into a league where teams do different things, scheme-wise. The SEC teams do things that we’re going to have to adapt to, and that’s one of the challenges. We knew what Brighton was going to do, Grand Blanc, Howell, Hartland — in this new league, we don’t necessarily know that.”

Pinckney placed second in the KLAA West last year, coming four points short of beating Brighton to win it. It also won its second playoff game in school history — the other win happening in 2013 — by downing Walled Lake Northern in pre-districts and held a lead until the fourth quarter in the district final against Walled Lake Western, the Division 2 state runner-up last year.

The Pirates lose quite a bit of talent in Livingston Daily’s Defensive Player of the Year Wes Smith and mammoth two-way lineman Adam Sieler, but with Wurzer, linebacker Cauy Hendee and defensive back/wide receiver Nick Cain returning to lead the squad in 2017, they are not lowering expectations.

“I get a little giddy talking about it so much,” Beaton said, laughing. “But we’re working for it and I think it’s all coming together. Now I just can’t mess it up.”